Arequipa, Peru

Arrived in Arequipa after the night bus not exactly fresh and first things first had a quick nap. We then headed out into town to find the Monasterio Santa Catalina went into a promising looking building which housed a museum it was not very much of much and was not the Monasterio. Second time found the Monasterio Santa Catalina and in I went Keeely choose to go back to the hotel. The Monasterio was huge like a small town with its own streets. There were few people around it was a very peacefull beautiful place to spend a couple of hours. I had quick look at the plaza which I thought much nicer than the one in Lima then back to the hotel. That night it was Verity´s birthday and we all went out to dinner and then for a drink. For dinner I started with raw Ostrich and then Alpaca steak both of which were very good. We had a few drinks but not to many as had another early start the next morning.

We drove up and up to an altitude of over 4000 meters and people started to feel the affects. Courtney walked out of the bus and promptly collasped Keeley made out of the bus but feel very ill. By the time we made it to Chivay for lunch I had a banging headache but managed lunch. Jess however spent the lucnh feeling none to good in the bus. When we got to Coporaque and our hotel most paople were feeling at least a little ill but we still went off for a walk. I struggled to breath for the whole hour walk but the veiws at the top were stunning. However I did not make dinner as had two paracetamols and went to bed.

Next day everyone feeling much better headed to the Colca Canyon to spot Condors. A nice walk along the Canyon edge lead us to the Condor veiwing platforms. We did not have to wait long to see lots of Condors and at close range. We waited quite sometime for a second veiwing but the Condors remained elusive. Happy with the Condors we wnet on another walk through farmland along the Colca Canyon. Lunch back at Chivay I managed to eat much more this time then back to Arequipa. When we reached Arequipa the roads were covered in rocks blocking the way. It seems that it was a form of strikes our bus driver managed to avoid all the large rocks bringing us safely to the hotel. I do not think industrial action like bobby trapping roads will catch on in the UK. Next stop Cuzco and soon the Inca Trail.